Manning Defense Seeks Dismissal of Charges

At a pre-trial hearing this week in the case of Pfc. Bradley Manning , who is suspected of releasing classified records to WikiLeaks without authorization, a military judge will consider several motions filed by Manning’s defense that seek to reduce the charges against him, or to have them dismissed altogether. The defense motions, filed by attorney David E. Coombs and made available on his blog with some redactions, assert a range of objections including these: * The government has so egregiously failed to fulfill its discovery obligations — i.e. its duty disclose exculpatory and other “Brady” information to the defense — that the whole case must be dismissed. “The Government’s abdication of its basic discovery responsibilities is unconscionable and irreparably prejudicial, mandating that all charges should be dismissed with prejudice,” Mr. Coombs contended. * The governm...